Japanese Library Card

While developing the Lillian H. Smith Web site, I contacted the National Diet Library of Japan due to the interest in her career in that country. I was under the impression that it was necessary to have a library card to use their services and requested that an account be created. Although I later learned that was unnecessary, I received the card and it is on display here as an example of both the similarities and differences to other library systems.

DIY Retro-reflective LED green screen technique

In anticipation of the need for improved special effects in a new book rap video, I began exploring the use of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and a retro-reflective fabric that incorporates glass beads which reflect nearly 100 percent of the light falling on it but only in the direction from which it came. By placing a LED ring over the lens of a camera, the backdrop glows allowing anything standing in front of it to be separated from the background.

My experiments were documented on the IndieTalk Web site along with those of other independent filmmakers interested in this technique which is easier to accomplish compared to traditional green screen filming. Although a professional version is available it is much more expensive and IndieTalk members have been able to achieve the same effect at a fraction of the price. To view my thread posts beginning on page seven, link to the forum through the image below. My username is michaelmanch.